Tolkien and the Silmarillion

by Clyde S. Kilby

In Tolkien and the Silmarillion, Clyde S. Kirby spins his remembrance of a summer's close personal acquaintance with J.R.R. Tolkien into an intimate portrait of the writer whose mythic universe has kindled the imagination of a vast audience. Here Kirby not only provides a rich diversity of clues to the content of that looked-for magnus opus, The Silmarillion, but elaborates on Tolkien's personal and literary relationships with his contemporaries, C.S. Lewis and Charles Williams.

As we accompany Professor Kilby up the walk and through the door into the Tolkien home and office in Oxford, we are shown a series of swift images, like color slides, which allow us tantalizing glimpses of the scholar story-teller himself, and in which we view the gleaming mysteries of Middle Earth, down through its successive ages.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Literary Criticism, Biography Memoir, Christianity, Criticism, Literature

89 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1976

Reviews

[J. Wootton · Rating 3 out of 5]

An important little book that offered fans almost their only glimpse (beyond the LOTR Appendices) of what Tolkien was developing in the tales of the first and second ages of Middle-Earth, roughly a year before The Silmarillion was first published.

Now, with nearly twenty volumes of Tolkien's efforts available thanks to decades of work by his son Christopher, Kilby's reminisces are primarily interesting as early criticism and biographical curiosities.

[Justin Wiggins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really fascinating little book about a summer that Clyde Kilby spent with the brilliant philologist and creator of Middle-Earth, J.R.R.Tolkien. Reading about Kilby's friendship with Tolkien was incredibly moving. Some friends of mine actually knew Kilby, and when I asked what he was like, they spoke very highly of him.

One of my favorite quotes from the book is when Kilby says this in regard to Tolkien's writing, "He told me that many times he had been given a story as an answer to prayer."

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This modest little book runs a mere 90 pages, and its chief interest is Kilby’s first-hand account of time spent with Tolkien in the 60s, towards the end of his (Tolkien’s) life. Not ground-breaking scholarship, but an intriguing portrait at a distinct point in time (well before the publishing of the Silmarillion, and a great many other posthumous works).

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very short, and therefore a very easy read for people interested in Tolkien and his authorship. The first half is very anecdotal but worthwhile in giving a first-hand portrait of Tolkien as a writer and a man and loving husband, and in passing, illuminates the 'problem' of "Will JRR ever get it together and finish 'The Silmarillion'?" ((This portrait of the man also goes a long way to explain how heir and editor Christopher T. was able to go on, for decades, seemingly, trying to rationally compile and issue books based on the notes and half-finished manuscripts in his father's mythic materials.)) The second half of the book looks variously at Tolkien's own 'myth-building' processes, the influences of some older 'fantasy' writers on Tolkien, and the interactions between members of the Inklings group of which Tolkien was a member.

[Lydia · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say? I absolutely LOVED this book. I am, of course, an avid Tolkien reader. It was so interesting to hear about Tolkien from the perspective of an acquaintance and then friend. To hear about his personality, countenance, talents, strengths, weaknesses and interests was exhilarating, like traveling back in time to meet my favourite author. I also enjoyed reading about him talking about some of the comments on his work. Lasting I enjoyed the author’s references to fans of the books who spoke about the wonder of them and how they changed their lives. Fantastic stuff.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this gem of a book in my church library. If you ever wanted to experience sitting down with Tolkien in his office or garden and speaking with him about whatever was on his mind, this is probably as close as you can get. It made me feel like I learned not only something about him but that I actually came to know him somewhat. That might be something of an illusion, but it is a very pleasant one.

[Stephanie C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this. I picked it up and read it during moments of downtime in orchestra rehearsals. I recommend it to every Tolkien or C.S. Lewis fan because it gave glimpses of their friendships and personal lives without being heavy or overly detailed. Just delightful.

Also, it was published before the Silmarillion was published, so the author is expressing his hopes for that work, which have since been realized. Just a fun snapshot of that moment in time.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this reminiscent look at Tolkien in his later years before the compilation of his Silmarillion, and the background of his formational friendships in Oxford.

[Josh Sturm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Offers a glimpse of Tolkien the man that is both simple and enjoyable. Kilby is also intimately informed and perceptive in his analysis of Tolkien’s mythology.

[Jenna (Falling Letters) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review published 6 December 2018 at Falling Letters.

Yes, this delightful little volume is ‘outdated’, having been published in 1976, a year before The Silmarillion . But it remains a valuable read as author Clyde S. Kilby, an Inklings scholar and creator of the Marion E. Wade Center, knew Tolkien personally and shares intimate recollections of the summer he spent working with Tolkien in 1966 to prepare The Silmarillion for publication – though Kilby immediately realized “that The Silmarillion would never be completed” (20). Kilby describes conversations with Tolkien on all sorts of topics, offering wonderful vignettes into the life and mind of Tolkien. Much of the information in this book can be found elsewhere – it is the personal tone and perspective that make it enjoyable to read.

Tolkien & the Silmarillion functions as historical snapshot for readers like me, who have come to Tolkien’s works in the past two decades. Kilby does his best to offer a “chronology of composition” regarding Tolkien’s mythology (49-50), which I imagine is one of the first to be shared publicly, as Kilby had access to much material that was not then publicly available. I smiled as Kilby comments “In the future, we shall no doubt have a much better record of the chronology of the conception and composition of Tolkien’s mythology, but for the present this would appear to be roughly correct” (50). No doubt indeed! This book shows just how lucky contemporary readers are to have the access that we now do to so much of Tolkien’s work, along with extensive secondary scholarship.

Another unique aspect of this book is that it was written shortly after Tolkien’s death and speaks of him that context. In most texts I read, the authors never knew Tolkien and he has long since passed. I found it moving to read the thoughts of one who was recently mourning Tolkien.

Whether Tolkien will survive as a significant literary figure is a question no man can presently answer. What many of us now with great assurance is that he survives deeply and joyously in us. (pg. 81)

The Bottom Line: If you can get your hands on this little book, it’s still worth a read for any contemporary fan of Tolkien.

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

A brief but interesting look into Tolkien's life and the creation of Middle-Earth. As a Tolkien fan, I enjoyed learning more about the author, his Christianity, and his friends in the Inklings. The author spent the summer of 1966 in Tolkien's home, critiquing his Silmarillion manuscripts. He made notes of Tolkien's personality, behavior, and habits. This was published in 1976, before the Silmarillion.

I read this because it was mentioned in A Guide through Narnia by Martha Sammons.

Notes
Summer with Tolkien
"As Time went on I discovered [Tolkien] a Barliman Butterbur, looking here and there for portion of The Silmarillion."

"In point of mystifying circumlocution C.S. Lewis compared Tolkien to his own father, whose conversation often contained non sequiturs that first bothered the hearer and then became so outrageous as to be screamingly funny. Tolkien's deviations from the expected were owing not to preoccupation but rather to his scurry after the quarry across mental fences and quagmires."

Numenorean language is based on Hebrew.

"One often felt that his words could not pour out fast enough - there was a sense of the galloping on of all his ideas ideas at once, along with kaleidoscopic facial changes."

Tolkien liked detective stories and sci-fi.

"His interest in medieval literature and life was more than a profession - it was a love."

Tolkien described Sam Gamgee as "vulgar," "despicable," "sententious," and "cocksure."

Tolkien, like C.S. Lewis, thought an author should first compose a story in poetry, then turn it into prose.

Chronology of Composition and Geography of Middle-Earth
Tolkien said Middle-Earth was Northwestern Europe, the Shire was England, Asia was east of Rhun, Africa was south of Harad, Numenor was in middle of Atlantic.

Tolkien as Christian Writer
"I do not recall a single visit I made to Tolkien's home in which the conversation did not at some point fall easily into a discussion of religion, or rather Christianity."

The Secret Fire was the Holy Spirit.

Tolkien, Lewis & Williams
Lewis said, of Tolkien, "The similarities between his work and mine are due, I think (a) To nature – Temperament, (b) To common sources. We are both soaked in Norse mythology, George MacDonald’s fairy tales, Homer, Beowulf, and medieval romance. Also, of course, we are both Christians."

[Catlyn Feral · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could read this over and over. Love it

[Nicholas Kotar · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book dated simply by the fact that it was published before the Silmarillion came out. But the personal anecdotes of a short and professional friendship between the author and Tolkien are wonderful.

[Dorothy Emry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting look at Tolkien's work habits and procrastination. His short story "Leave by Niggle" certainly shows the truth of his writer's life as I'd always suspected.

[Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

A glimpse into the past before the publication of The Silmarillion.

An interesting and enjoyable read.

[Michael Romeo Talks Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tolkien and The Silmarillion by Clyde S. Kilby. This is a brief book by a man who came to know Tolkien in the last phase of his life. Tolkien engaged Kilby to assist him in the sorting out and compiling of the many notes and manuscripts that would one day become The Silmarillion, a book that would not be published until after Tolkien’s death. Kilby takes us along as he meets Tolkien for the first time and over a period of several years comes to know him as a dear friend. The Tolkien we meet is still the scholar and mythologist the world knows him as, but we see him as well as an elderly man dealing with a life work that will never be finished. We see him as a husband dealing with his wife’s failing health. We meet him as a retiree struggling on an insufficient income. Kilby lets us in on Tolkien’s far ranging brain as he describes conversations in which Tolkien makes connections from one subject to another that many times only he could understand in the depths of his brilliant mind. Kilby’s book was very reminiscent of another favorite of mine, Churchill: The Struggle for Survival by Lord Moran, the man who was Churchill’s doctor for the last twenty-five years of his life.

https://secondpot.wordpress.com/2015/...

[inhonoredglory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes, this book may be outdated, as it was written in anticipation of the posthumous publication of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Silmarillion, but it still has its biographical charms. Namely, the author's personal encounter with Tolkien, the vividness of his conversation and the life within his speech and expression; the importance of Tolkien's Christianity to his work with specific examples to demonstrate the Christian assumption inherent in Middle-earth; and a summary of the bond and shared interests of the three major Inklings Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Charles Williams. I loved the personal and humbled tone the author takes and the way he brings Tolkien to a simple and honorable life to his reader.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had bought this book when it was published, back when we young people were all excited about the anticipated release of The Silmarillion. Anything about Tolkien was exciting. Reread it the other day. On the one hand, it was very slim and light; it could have been published as just a few magazine articles. On the other hand, it was a look into Tolkien that has stood the test of time. So much baloney has been written about Tolkien, and the movies, too, have skewed our culture's view of his books, not in a good direction. A healthy and accurate look at the real JRR Tolkien, by one who was sympathetic to his world view.

[Scott Hayden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clyde S. Kilby volunteered to help J.R.R. Tolkien bring The Silmarillion closer to publication. Although that didn't happen during Tolkien's lifetime, Kilby relates from his brief summer working with Tolkien and further correspondence his own account of meetings, chronology of composition, and Tolkien's friends, The Inklings.

A short easy read introducing the reader to the thought and relationships behind Tolkien's writing, this little book was written before, and in earnest hopes of, the publication of The Silmarillion.

[Jason Jewell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written before the release of The Silmarillion, Kilby recalls the summer he spent helping Tolkien get the manuscript into shape. Obviously, much of the content is dated; for example, Kilby reveals portions of Tolkien's letters that have since been published in their entirety. The best thing in the book is the light it sheds on Tolkien's personality and his method of writing and editing.

[Kezia · Rating 5 out of 5]

CONTENT ..nothing I recall. There might have been langauge..

MESSAGES Tolkien could be fun to be around - Edith could be fun too - they were religeus

WRITING Quick to read. Non finctional

CONCLUSION I liked it.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a bit dated as this was written before the Silmarilion was published, but a nice bit of background nonetheless.

[Joey]

The chapter on Tolkien as a Christian writer is very worthwhile!

[Andrew Nedelchev · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very pleasant little book!

[Jeremy]

More on this book here.